What is a Male Sheep Called? - Raising Sheep What is a Male Sheep Called? Male Sheep Slang for Adult Male Sheep Buck Name for Male Sheep in the UK Tup Horned The Names for Different Types of Male Sheep While many people group male sheep and female sheep together under the umbrella term "sheep" - did you know that male sheep are called many different things? The age and even the location on the globe can dictate what a male sheep is called. A young male sheep is called a ram lamb - usually until the ram has reached a full year old. Once a ram is a year old he is considered an adult, but if you show your sheep you'll find that rams which are between one and two years old are called yearling rams. Occasionally shepherds will own a ram which isn't fertile and there are two names for a ram who cannot sire lambs. A wether is a ram which has been castrated (typically these are market or club lambs which are being raised for meat ... castration simplifies life for the shepherd as all of the ram and ewe market lambs can be kept together without risk of pregnancy) and a teaser ram is a ram which has had a vasectomy.

While it may seem odd to perform a vasectomy on a ram, shepherds occasionally do this to an aggressive ram with a high sex-drive as a way to encourage a flock of ewes to begin estrus earlier than they might if mother nature took its course. This can be a good way to have lambs delivered early so that your lambs perform well in the show ring. What is a Male Sheep Called in Different Parts of the World? In some parts of the world a male sheep is called different things. While a ram is universally understood as being a proper name for a male sheep, in some areas a male sheep is called a buck - the same name given to a male deer. This isn't a traditional name for a male sheep but it's not uncommon to hear this label given to rams at larger livestock shows in the US and elsewhere. In the UK a male sheep is called a tup quite often and the act of a ram mating with a ewe is sometimes referred to as "tupping." In fact this is a line which was used in the early pages of Shakespeare's play, Othello to crassly refer to Othello's relationship with Desdemona. Not all male sheep have horns, but some do.

Rams without horns are referred to as polled rams and male sheep which grow a rack of horns are called horned rams. Unlike deer (which shed their antlers each year), male sheep with horns don't shed their horns - rather they continue to grow throughout their lifetime. What is a male sheep called where you're from? Let us know in the comments below! What is another name for a male sheep? | Reference.com What is another name for a male sheep? A: Quick Answer According to Sheep 101, an adult male sheep has several names, including ram or buck. A young sheep under the age of 1 is a ram lamb. In the United Kingdom, a male sheep is called a tup. Full Answer Castrated bucks are referred to as wethers. Sheep between the ages of 1 and 2 are considered yearlings. A group of three or more sheep is a flock, and larger flocks are bands or mobs. Shortly after birth, lambs are able to stand. Sheep have few defenses against their natural predators of coyotes and wild dogs. They eat by grazing, and a specialized split lip helps them easily select the leaves from their favorite plants.

ram | male sheep | Britannica.com male sheep THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Mouflon ram (Ovis musimon). Learn about this topic in these articles: in sheep ...species of sheep, the outer coat takes the form of hair, and beneath this lies a short undercoat of fine wool that has been developed into the fleece of domesticated sheep. Male sheep are called rams, the females ewes, and immature animals lambs. Mature sheep weigh from about 80 to as much as 400 pounds (35 to 180 kg). To browse sheep by breed, see below. Sheep and lambs - Society for the Advancement of Animal Wellbeing Society for the Advancement of Animal Wellbeing Members Sheep and lambs Sheep are docile natured animals and they are also very intelligent. Adult female sheep are called “ewes”, the males are “rams” and the children or infants are called “lambs”. In the wild these herbivores live for more than 15 years and often graze on different grasses, leaves twigs as well as other plants.

Sheep also have very strong social relationships and have other higher brain functions similar to humans. Dr. Keith Kendrick and co-researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, England discovered that sheep can remember 50 different faces of other sheep and retain this memory for up to 2 years. In another study, scientists demonstrated that sheep have well developed spatial memory. The animals navigated their way through a complex maze and actually got better at repeated attempts which showed their ability to learn. Sheep can also self medicate, if they feel discomfort they will eat something that they have learned makes them feel better. The mother-child relationship of sheep is also very affectionate and caring. Mother ewes get distressed when they can’t find their young. The lambs will often follow there mothers around where ever they go. Lambs also enjoy climbing and group play and are very curious just like any other child. Ewes will often foster or adopt lambs that have become lost from there family or flock. Insemination and reproduction Although sheep are not thought of as intensively factory farmed animals like cows, pigs and hens as they are allowed to graze, the methods and conditions used to raise these animals are equally cruel and inhumane.

We will now take a look at the entire system of sheep farming used through out the world in order to better understand the scale of suffering that they have to endure. Starting with the process of breeding lambs also known as lambing, there are a variety of methods available. Traditionally special rams were allowed to naturally impregnate ewes. But due to increased desire for profit, artificial insemination is used, a process that is much more insensitive and invasive. Firstly to get the semen from the ram an electronic probe is inserted in to his anus and pushed against his prostrate gland. A button is then pushed which sends an electrical current through the prostrate and the rest of the animal thus inducing ejaculation. This process often leaves the ram writhing and kicking in pain on the floor. Next a young ewe is grabbed and placed on her back and a syringe is forcefully inserted in to the womb and the fluid is injected. Often the syringe has been used before and so may contain transmittable diseases. The process is extremely distressing for the young ewe especially as she may only be 7 to 9 months old as this is usually the time when she has just entered sexually maturity.

Another painful procedure that is becoming increasingly popular is embryo implantation. Lambs The entire reproductive lives of sheep is manipulated and controlled in order to achieve the highest number of lambs, as it is the babies’ meat and wool that fetches the highest price at market. This interference in the natural cycle has many undesirable and morbid results. Ordinarily in nature the ewes will come in to heat during autumn and winter and give birth five months later in the spring time. This will give the new born lamb the greatest chance of survival as the weather is getting warmer and the grass and plants are growing in abundance. However as the farmers wish to get their lambs to market before Easter and ahead of the competition, they manipulate the ewes to give birth in the middle of winter. As a result in the UK alone, 4 million or 20% of all new born lambs die in the first few weeks of life from freezing conditions and starvation. In order to alter the ewes fertility cycle they are fed hormones and kept confined in sheds where the light intensity and duration are artificially controlled.

The conditions in these sheds resemble those of factory farms where the animals are packed densely and defecate where they stand, this consequently causes the spread of infectious diseases which may result in sickness or death. In addition the fertility treatment often causes the birth of twins and triplets which is very uncommon in sheep. This is problematic since when triplets are born one of them will be rejected as the ewes only have 2 teats. The rejected lamb may have to be force fed, a tube will be pushed down its throat in to his or her stomach and milk will be pumped in. After 2 or 3 days the lamb can be sold at market. Other weak lambs may also be sold at 1 month old even before being completely weaned. They will be kept in sheds and intensively fed and fattened to be made ready for slaughter. Depending on the type of lamb meat required these babies may be slaughtered at the extremely young age of 10 weeks old or alternatively at 10 or 15 months. Their mother ewes will be slaughtered at anywhere from 4 to 6 years old after they have been worn out mentally and physically from being kept constantly pregnant.

As there is low demand for the ewe’s flesh she will be sold as mutton for processed and tinned foods. Every year 15% to 25% of the mothering sheep will be heartlessly culled if they have low fertility or lameness. Cruel proceedures Before being slaughtered the infant lambs will have a number of horrific procedures carried out on them. At only a few days old all the male lambs will be castrated. Usually they will have an extremely tight plastic ring placed around their genitalia, this cuts off the blood supply and the reproductive organ subsequently withers and falls off. This is excruciatingly painful and is done with out pain killers or anesthetic. In older lambs the scrotum will be cut open and the testes extracted. This is all done to make the meat tenderer as well as to control the temperament of the child and accelerate his growth. The babies will also have their ears tagged by piercing and under go “tail docking”, this is when the tail is either cut off or has an extremely tight plastic ring placed on it which like the castration causes the tail to shrivel and fall off.

The docking is meant to prevent parasitic infections but there is little scientific evidence to suggest that it is effective. Older sheep may also have their horns removed whilst the lambs will be disbudded. These are all agonizing and unnecessary operations often carried by non-expert staff with no sanitization or medication. Some young lambs are so terrorized by the castration that they subsequently go into shock and stop suckling, they eventually die from starvation beside their distraught mothers. Slaughter For Both lambs and sheep destined for slaughter, they are usually stunned first unless it is a ritual or religious killing. The method of stunning involves the use of electric paddles placed on the animal’s head, a shock is given which induces convulsions in the sheep and subsequently unconsciousness, this is by no means effective or humane. Next the throat is slit open in order to sever the arteries in the neck and the animal is bled out. Lambs account for the majority of sheep slaughtered in the EU. The wool or pelt of the lamb is also valued for its softness.

Persian wool coats which are very popular in the high-end fashion industry are actually from infant karakul lambs that are caught and slaughtered a mere 1 or 2 days after birth. They are prized for the tight curls of the wool which unravel after the third day and so must be killed whilst they are only a couple of days old and still stumbling on their feet. Even more abhorrent is the taste of for fetal karakul woolen pelts which fetch an even higher price on the market. These pelts are obtained by slaughtering a pregnant ewe two weeks before giving birth. The ewe is tossed on to her back and restrained. The throat is then slit and then the head is dislocated and severed from the body. The unborn baby can be seen to kick and struggle for life inside the womb, once the movement stops and the fetus is dead the stomach is slashed open and the fetus immediately removed and skinned. This is done with out stunning as these operation usually occur in countries with very little animal protection laws, however these pelts can be seen on the cat walks of the fashion capitals of the world as expensive handbags and coats. Approximately 4 to 5 million of these pelts are sold per year.

Wool Obtaining wool from adult sheep in developed countries is also particularly cruel and inhumane. Australia which has a sheep population of over 100 million sheep, supplies more than 30% of the world’s wool. Most of the sheep are Merino sheep which have wrinkly skin and so therefore produce more wool which is a desirable and profitable quality. However in countries with hot climates the sheep often suffer from heat exhaustion. The wrinkly skin also means that urine and moisture gets trapped and this in turn attracts flies which lay eggs in the folds of the skin. When the maggots hatch they can eat the sheep alive, this condition is known as “flystrike”. In an attempt to prevent this, farmers and operators perform a procedure unique to the Australian wool industry known as “museling”. This savage operation involves the use of clippers or large scissors to cut and carve off large chunks of flesh from sheep’s rump and tail area. The sheep is tied down on its back when the procedure is carried out. No anesthetics are used and there is no medical supervision or sanitization of the tools or the sheep’s body. The bloody and sore wound is just left open and raw and is therefore prone to infection.

However there are other more humane methods that can be used to prevent flystrike. The first and most obvious is to use a different species of sheep that has smoother skin, also correct sheering of the posterior at the right time of year is very effective too. To watch a video on the mulesing procedure please click here . Another procedure usually carried out on ewes is “tooth grinding” this when the front teeth are ground down or are sliced off right through the nerve filled pulp down to the gum line. This again is done with out pain medication and is performed in order to stop the sheep breaking their teeth. The sheep will also suffer from other diseases including lameness, mastitis, sheep scab and toxoplasmosis. They may also develop parasitic infestations, for this the farmers usually forcibly submerge sheep in a bath of potent and highly toxic organophosphate chemicals. The process is known as “dipping” and can cause a variety of adverse reactions in the highly sensitive sheep including breathing difficulties, vomiting, twitching, paralysis and death. Shearing of the sheep is also uncomfortable and distressing as they are roughly handled and the sharp shear due to the high speed of processing often cut through the skin.

Live Exports - Long distance transport Many million of sheep each year are also exported alive over great distances to different continents. Tens of thousands of sheep are packed in to multiple level ships. These journeys may take months at sea to complete, the extreme weather experienced will range from very hot, up to 40 degrees Celsius to freezing cold. Defecating and urinating where they eat, disease is rife. Fed a bare minimum of poor quality food, up to 10% of animals will be dead upon arrival. Often they are sold in countries for ritual slaughter where they will be killed with out stunning. Click here to go back to the factory farming section or read more about other issues regarding animals. Sheep 201: Glossary of sheep terms Glossary of Sheep Terms A Abattoir -a facility where farm animals are harvested and processed into meat products. Abomasum - the fourth compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; the one where digestion takes place. Abortion - premature loss of a pregnancy. Accelerated lambing - when a ewe lambs more often than once a year. ADF - acid detergent fiber AFO - Agricultural operations where livestock are kept and raised in confined situations. Some states regulate AFOs.

Afterbirth - the placenta and fetal membranes that are expelled from the uterus after the lambs are born. Amino acid - one of the building blocks of protein. Anemia - a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Animal unit (AU) - a unit represented by one mature cow or horse, or by as many animals as consume an equivalent amount of feed, such as 7 sheep. Animal unit month (AUM) - The quantity of forage required by one mature cow and her calf (or the equivalent, in sheep or horses, for instance) for one month. Annual (plant) - a plant that usually germinates, flowers and dies in one year. Anthelmintic - a medicine which kills certain types of intestinal worms. Antibiotic - a drug that kills bacteria and other germs. Antibodies - proteins produced by the immune system to fight specific bacteria, viruses, or other antigens. Anti-toxin - an antibody that can neutralize a specific toxin. Artificial Insemination (AI) - process whereby semen is placed within a female's uterus by artificial means i.e. other than sexual intercourse. ASI - American Sheep Industry Association. Federation of state sheep associations.

B Banding - the process of applying rubber bands to the tail or scrotum for docking and castrating. Bellwether - sheep that leads the herd often wearing a bell . Bloat - excessive accumulation of gases in the rumen of an animal. Bottle jaw - Edema or fluid accumulation, under the jaw. A sign of infection with Haemonchosis in sheep. Breech birth - a birth in which the lamb is presented backwards with its rear legs tucked under and only its tail near the opening. Browse - parts of woody plants, including twigs, shoots, and leaves. Buck - slang term for a male sheep. Bummer - slang term for an orphan lamb. Burdizzo - castration method that uses a large clamp to crush the blood vessels leading into the testicles. C CAFO - cconfined animal feeding operation having at least 1,000 animal units. Governed by federal and state laws. Carding -process involving the movement of natural fibres between two surfaces covered with wire pins in order to detangle and align the fibres in preparation for spinning. Castrate - removal of testicles or influence of testicles. cc - cubic centimeter.

Same as a millileter (ml). Cellulose - component of plant cell walls that is not digestible by most animals (lignin) Cervix - the lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labor to allow the passage of the fetuses. Cryptorchidism - failure of one or both testes to descend Coccidiostat - any of a group of chemical agents mixed in feed or drinking water to control coccidiosis in animals. Colostrum - first milk a ewe gives after birth. High in antibodies, this milk protects newborn lambs against diseases. Composting - process whereby organic wastes decompose naturally. Combing - the straightening or parallelizing of fibers using combs. Also includes the removal of short fibers and other impurities. Concentrate - feed that is high in energy, low in fiber content, and highly digestible. Conception - in reproduction, the point at which a sperm fertilizes an egg. Continuous grazing - livestock remain on a grazing unit the entire time in which grazing is allowed. Cool season plant - a plant that generally makes most of its growth during the late fall, winter, and spring.

Corpus Luteum (CL) - the mass of cells that form once the egg has been released from the ovary. The corpus luteum produces progesterone. Also called "yellow body." Cost share - a subsidization, by different governmental agencies and some private industries. Crimp - the natural waviness of the wool fiber. Culling - the process that determines which animals in a herd will not be bred. Creep feeding - to provide supplemental feed to nursing lambs. Creep grazing - the practice of allowing young animals to graze areas their dams cannot access at the same time. Crossbreeding - the mating of animals of different breeds. Crutching (or crotching) - the removal of wool from around the tail and between the rear legs of a sheep. Cud - food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again. D Dags - wool contaminated with feces, which is either adhering to or has been clipped from the posterior of sheep. Dam - mother. Diarrhea - increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion. Dock - to remove the tail (v) or the shortened tail of a sheep (n).

Drench - a method of giving liquid medicine. Dressing percentage - the percentage of the live animal that ends up as carcass. Dystocia - difficulty in giving birth or being born. E Eid - annual Islamic festival. There are two major Eids in the Muslim calendar. Elastrator - instrument used to apply heavy rubber bands (elastrator rings/bands) to the tail and scrotum for docking and castration. Embryo - an animal in the early stage of development before birth. Embryo Transfer (ET) - implantation of embryos or fertilized eggs into a surrogate mother. Epididymitis - tiny tube where sperm collect after leaving the testis. Estrogen - female sex hormone produced by the ovary. Responsible for the estrus cycle. Estrus - the period when the female is fertile and receptive to the male. Also called heat. Estrus Cycle - the reproductive cycle of the female. Ewe - female sheep Extra label - use of a drug in a manner for which it was not labeled. Only veterinarians can use or prescribe extra label drugs. F FAMACHA© - a parasite control regime for controlling and treating Haemonchus contoritus in small ruminants.

Uses an eye color chart to predict level of anemia in animal. Fat-soluble vitamins - vitamins that dissolve in liquid fat or fatty oils, in addition to water. They include Vitamin A, D, E and K. They are manufactured in the rumen. Fatten - feed for slaughter. Make fleshy or plump. Fecal egg count (FEC) - number of worm eggs in a gram of feces. Also called EPG (eggs per gram). Feedlot - an area where lambs are confined and fed carefully mixed, high-concentrate feed to fatten them. Fertilizer - any one of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds, spread or worked into the soil to increase its fertility. Five Point Check© - an extension of the FAMACHA© system, a decision-making tool that allows farmers to make deworming decisions for all of the parasites that commonly affect small ruminants. Involves five check points on the animal's body: eye, jaw, nose, back, and tail. Fleece - the wool from a single sheep in the shorn grease state.

Flerd - a mixed group of sheep and cattle. Fodder - crops grown for animal feed. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates the production of follicles by the ovary. Foot bath - chemical and water mixture that sheep stand in, used for the prevention and/or treatment of foot rot and foot scald. Footrot - contagious disease of sheep caused by specific bacteria Forage - grasses, small shrubs and other plant material that can be used as feed for livestock. Edible parts of plants. Forb - broadleafed herbaceous plant (e.g., dandelion). Forward grazing - when one group of animals is allowed access to a paddock ahead of another group. G Genotype - the genetic constitution of an individual. Gestation - the length of pregnancy. Gimmer - female sheep over one year of age. Grade (n) - measure of quality. There are grades for live animals, meat, and wool. Graft - to transfer a lamb to a ewe that is not its mother. Grain - the seed part of cereal crops such as corn, oats, barley, and wheat.

Grass - a group of plants having narrow leaves with parallel veins, small flowers, and basically hollow stems with joints where the leaves are attached. Grass-based - when pasture or grassland play a significant role in the life or diet of the animal. Green chop - freshly cut forage fed to livestock. Ground water - water that does not run off, and is not taken up by plants, but soaks down into an aquifer; a supply of fresh water under the earths surface which forms a natural reservoir. Is frequently used for drinking. Gummer - a sheep so old that it has lost all of its teeth. H Haemonchosis - infestation with or disease caused by nematode Haemonchus (esp. H. contortus) Halal - a set of Islamic dietary laws which regulate the preparation of food. Hand spinner - a person who spins wool (twists fibers into yarn) by hand. Hay - grass mowed and cured for use as fodder. Haylage - grass silage Heat - estrus. The period when the female is fertile and receptive to the male. Heavy use area - an outdoor area where livestock are primarily sustained by imported feed.

Hectare - metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters, or 2.471 acres Heterosis - an increase in the performance of hybrids over that of purebreds, most noticeably in traits such as fertility and survivability. Heritability - the extent to which a trait is influenced by our genetic makeup. Hogget - a British term for a yearling sheep that has not yet been shorn. Hoop house - building with an arched metal frame and fabric cover, used to house livestock. Hormone -a substance that is made by one part of the body but affects another part of the body. Hull - the dry outer cover of a fruit, seed, or nut. Hybrid vigor - an increase in the performance of hybrids over that of purebreds, most noticeably in traits such as fertility and survivability. Hypothermia - a condition of characterized by low body temperature. I Immunity - a natural or acquired resistance to a specific disease. Inbreeding - Mating or crossing of individuals more closely related that average pairs in the population. Intramuscular (IM) - into a muscle.

Intraperitoneal (IP) - administered or withdrawn from within the abdominal cavity. Intravenously (IV) - entering through a vein. Islam - the religious faith of Muslims, literally, "submission" (to God) J Jug - a pen where a ewe and her newborn lambs are put to bond. Jugular - vein in the neck that returns blood from the head. K Ked - wingless fly that is an external parasite on sheep. Ketone - acidic substance produced when the body uses fat, instead of sugar for energy. Ketosis - metabolic disorder where ketones build up in the body. Kosher - food prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. L Lactation - the secretion (production) of milk. When the ewe is giving milk. Lamb - a young sheep (n). To give birth to a lamb (v). The meat from an animal less than one year old (n). Lanolin - wool "grease." Also called yolk. Larvae - the immature form of many animals, which hatches from the egg and often differs in appearance from the adult form.

Leader-follower grazing - two classes of livestock having distinctly different nutritional needs are grazed successively in a pasture. Legume - a plant whose roots form an association with soilborne bacteria that can capture atmospheric nitrogen. Libido - sexual desire. Lignin - a component of the cell walls of plants that occurs naturally, along with cellulose. Linebreeding - the mating of individuals within a particular line. Live vaccine - a vaccine in which live virus is weakened through chemical or physical processes in order to produce an immune response without causing the severe effects of the disease. Lutenizing hormone (LH) - The hormone that normally triggers ovulation and stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone. In the male, it stimulates testosterone production. M Macromineral - an element essential in large quantities. Includes Ca, Mg, P, Na, Cl, and K. Mastitis - Inflammation of the mammary glands. ME - metabolizable energy Meat and bone meal - the rendered production from animal tissues, including bone. Microminerals - an element needed in very small quantities. Also called trace minerals. Includes Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, I, Mn, Se, Zn, and Mo.

Micron - one millionth of a meter. Measurement unit for wool fiber diameter. Milliliter (ml) - a unit of liquid volume in the metric system equivalent to one thousandth of a liter or approximately .03381 fluid ounces in the English system. Mixed grazing - grazing by two or more species of grazing animals on the same unit of land . Also called multi-species grazing. Mob - a group of sheep that have been run under exactly the same conditions for the entire growing season. Moorit - brown. Morphology - the size and shape of sperm. Motility -the ability of sperm to move by themselves. Mottled-faced - having spots or patches of color on the face. Muslim/Moslem - a member of the Islamic faith. Mutton - the meat from an older sheep. N NAIS - National Animal Identification System. NDF - neutral detergent fiber NSIP - National Sheep Improvement Program. A computerized genetic evaluation program for sheep. Necropsy - a postmortem examination. Nematode - roundworm. Nutrient management - identifying how the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) are to be annually managed for expected crop production and for the protection of water quality.

O Omasum - the third part of the ruminant stomach located between the reticulum and the abomasum. Orf - a viral skin disease affecting sheep and goats. People can contact this disease. Organic matter - the part of the soil that includes the decomposing remains of plants and animals, as well as the product of complete decomposition, known as humus. Orthodox - referring to the Eastern Church. Ova - female sex egg. Also called ovum, oocyte. Ovine - of, pertaining to, resembling, or being a sheep Ovis - a taxonomic genus wthin the sub family caprinae -- the sheep Ovulation - the release of mature eggs from the ovary. Oxytocin - a naturally secreted hormone that is important in milk letdown and the contraction of the smooth uterine muscles during the birthing process. P Paddock - an enclosed area for grazing animals. Parturition - the act of giving birth. Pedigree - line of descent of a purebred animal. Pelt - the skin of a sheep with the wool on. Perennial plant - plant that lasts three seasons or more. Periparturient - around the time of giving birth.

pH - a value that indicates the acidity of something (e.g. rumen, soil). Phenotype - the observable characteristics of an individual. Photoperiod - the relationship between the length of light and dark in a 24-hour period. Pinkeye - condition in which the conjunctiva (membranes lining the eyelids and covering the white part of the eye) become inflamed or infected. Also called conjunctivitis. Pizzle - the penis of an animal. Placenta - the organ that nourishes the fetus(es) in the uterus. Pneumonia - an infection in the lungs. Polled - the abscence of horns. Predator - an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals. Probiotic - living organisms used to manipulate fermentation in the rumen. Progeny - the offspring of an individual. Progesterone - a female hormone secreted by the ovary. Produced in large quantities by the placenta during pregnancy. Prolific - producing offspring in abundance. Protozoa - the first animals; the lowliest forms of life, all single-celled. Purebred - wholly of one breed or line (as opposed to crossbred).

Q Q fever (Query fever) - an infectious disease that spreads from animals to humans. Caused by a microbe called Coxiella burnetti. R Raddle - color pigment that is applied to the ram's brisket to mark females he mates. Ram - uncastrated adult male sheep Ram effect - stimulating non-cycling ewes to ovulate by the sudden introduction of a ram or teaser ram. Refugia - worms that have not been exposed to anthelmintics and therefore are susceptible to drug treatment. Reticulum - the second chamber of the ruminant digestive tract, used for sorting out fine plant particles for further fermentation. RFID - radio frequency identification. Refers to the technology that uses devices attached to objects that transmit data to an RFID receiver. Ringwomb - failure of the cervix of a ewe to dilate during parturition. Rotational grazing - a grazing scheme where animals are moved from one grazing unit (paddock) to another. Roughage - feed that is high in fiber, low in digestible nutrients, and low in energy (e.g., hay, straw, silage, and pasture). Roundworm -unsegmented worms with elongated rounded body pointed at both ends.

Rumen - the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant animal. Tts bacteria and protozoa break down cellulose. Ruminant - an animal with a multiple stomach that is able to digest cellulose. S Safe pasture - pasture that is not infected with worm larvae. Scouring - the actual separation of dirt, grease, and foreign matter from grease wool. Scours - diarrhea in livestock. Scrapie - the TSE of sheep and goats. A fatal brain disease. Scrotum - pouch in which the male's testicles are suspended outside the body. Scurs - little horns that have broken the skin, but not grown. Second cuts - short tufts of wool cut at least twice by the shearing. Selection - choosing of favorable offspring as parents for future generations. Selection differential - the difference between the mean of the individuals selected to be parents and the mean of the overall population. Selection index - a linear combination of phenotypic information and weighting factors used for genetic prediction. Semen - the combination of sperm, seminal fluid, and other male reproductive secretions. Sharps - needles, syringes, scalpel blades, slides, pipettes,and anything else that can puncture the skin.

Shear - the act of cutting wool. Sheath - an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal organ or part. Shed lambing - Housing ewes and newborn lambs in pens or sheds to provide food, shelter, and medical care during and immediately after birth. Silage - fodder (livestock feed) prepared by storing and fermenting green forage plants in a silo. Sire - father. Skirting - removing the stained, unusable, or undesirable portions of a fleece. Slime graft - rubbing the fetal fluids and membrane of a ewe's lamb onto a lamb that you wish to graft onto her. Smut-faced - blackface x whiteface Somatic cell count - the number of white blood cells per milliliter of milk or measurement of the number of somatic cells present in a sample of milk. Sperm - male reproductive cells. Spermatogenesis - sperm production Spin - work natural fibers into thread or yarn. Staple - refers to the length of a lock of shorn wool; in the trade, "staple" refers to the longer length wools within a grade. STAR© System - accelerating lambing system in which ewes produce five lamb crops in a three year period.

Stillborn - showing no signs of life at birth. Stocking density - the relationship between the number of animals and area of land at any given time. Stocking rate - the number of specific kinds and classes of animals grazing a unit of land for a specified period of time. Stockpiled forage - forage that is allowed to accumulate for later grazing. Straw - the stems of wheat, barlely, or oat plants which are cut and baled and often used for animal bedding. Sometimes, straw is fed to animals. Strip grazing - confining animals to an area of grazing land to be grazed in a relatively short period of time. Stun - make senseless. Subcutaneous (sub-Q, SQ) - under the skin. Sustainable agriculture - an approach to growing food and fiber which is profitable, uses on-farm resources efficiently to minimize adverse effects on the environment and people, preserves the natural productivity and quality of land and water, and sustains vibrant rural communities. T Tapeworm - ribbonlike flatworm that is parasitic in the intestines of vertebrates.

Targeted Selective Treatment (TST) - treatment strategy in which only animals which require treatment (usually deworming) or would benefit from treatment are treated. Teaser - ram that have been surgically altered in a way that prevents him from reproducing. Testosterone - a hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics. Top - a strand of longer fibers that have been straightened, made parallel and separated from the shorter fibers by combing. Top dress - a process that means apply to the top. Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) - standard system for expressing the energy value of feeds. Toxoid - A substance that has been treated to destroy its toxic properties but retains the capacity to stimulate production of antitoxins, used in immunization. Tup - British term for an uncastrated adult male sheep. U Udder - the milk secreting organ of a cow or sheep. Ultrasound -a procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. Urea - chief end product of mammalian protein metabolism. Uterus - the organ in the female in which the fetuses develop. The womb.

V Vaccine - injection given to animals to prevent or cure diseases. Vagina - the canal that forms the passageway from the uterus to the outside of the body. The birth canal. Vegetable matter - any material of plant origin found in the fleece, such as burrs, stickers, chaff and seed heads. Vegetative - in developmental stages of plant growth. Non-reproductive plant parts, i.e. leaf and stem; in contrast to reproductive plant parts, i.e. flower and seed. VFA - volatile fatty acid W Warm season plant - a plant that makes most of its growth during late spring, summer, or early fall and is usually dormant in winter. Weaning - removal of young mammals from their source of milk. Weed - a plant that is growing where it is unwanted. Wet graft - immersing the lamb to be grafted, along with the ewe's own lamb, into a saturated salt solution. Wether - a castrated male sheep. Withdrawal period - the time when a drug must not be administered prior to marketing to insure that no drug residues remain in the meat or milk. Wool pool - a collection point for many producers to sell their wool.

Woolen - yarn made from fibers that are one to three inches in length and that have been carded only. Fabrics of woolen yarn are characterized as being fuzzy, thick, and bulky. Worsted - wool yarn of long staple with fibers that have been combed prior to spinning. Combing produces more parallel fibers than carding. X Yearling - an animal between 1 and 2 years of age. Yeast - single-cell fungi that improve food digestion by stimulating microbial activity. Yoe - slang term for an adult female sheep. Z Zero grazing - a method of raising livestock in pens or small corrals where most of their fodder is grown elsewhere and carried to the pen. Zoonoses - a disease that is transmissible between humans and animals.

Question: What is a male sheep called
Answer: Ram